Reykjavík’s famous small hot dog stand narrowly escapes demolition

Narrow escape You can see the timber load, which the crane was carrying, where it landed right behind the small stand. Photo/GVA

Reykjavík’s famous small hot dog stand “Bæjarins bestu pylsur” narrowly escaped being demolished this morning when a large building crane crashed to the ground right next to it. The load that the crane was carrying came first crashing to the ground and landed right behind the small stand, and the the crane's boom followed with a bang.

Thankfully no one was injured but it was a close call as there is always quite a large crowd gathered around the popular downtown hot dog stand.

Close call Photo/GVA

A hotel is being built on the lot next door’s to the hot dog stand and the crane seems to have been overloaded.

Bæjarins bestu pylsur literally means The Town’s Best Hot Dogs and although being small the stand is a giant on the Icelandic fast food scene. It’s one of Reykjavík’s most famous landmark and a very popular destination for locals and visitors alike.

The menu could not be simpler: a hot dog on a bun, but the name is no exaggeration, you will not get more delicious hot dogs anywhere else in Reykjavík or even on the globe.

President Bill Clinton is still fondly remembered for his choice on a visit to Reykjavík in 2004: one with mustard only.

Expect a long line but it’s worth the wait. Bæjarins bestu is located on the corner of the downtown streets Pósthússtræti and Tryggvagata.